Lake People/Places.

Hooray For Highwood

With A Little Film Magic, It Becomes Part Of Minnesota

June 05, 1994|By Jodie Jacobs. Special to the Tribune.

A megaphone command of "quiet on the set" stilled a bevy of excited onlookers. But the jabbering quickly resumed after the shout of "cut" about five minutes later. And it peaked with nudges and pointing when actor Al Franken appeared in the driveway of a white clapboard bungalow and dropped a comment to director Harold Ramis ("Ghostbusters," "Groundhog Day").

Ramis was shooting "Stuart Smalley," a Paramount Pictures comedy based on Franken's "Saturday Night Live" character. The bungalow, fronted by a handkerchief-sized, unkept lawn, represented the home of Smalley's dysfunctional family in St. Louis Park, Minn.

Nothing usual here: The "set" at this point of the shooting was not in Minnesota or even on Paramount's back lot.

"Hollywood has come to Highwood," said Highwood Chamber of Commerce Director Bruno Bertucci.

Sure, Chicago had become one of filmdom's favorite second homes: Witness "The Fugitive" and the John Hughes teen-themed movies plus the 25 television and cinema films shot last year. And, of course, Lake Forest had its "Ordinary People" and "The Package."

But to the people of tiny (less than a square mile) Highwood, the day their town was captured on film would provide conversation over wine or pasta for years to come. It mattered little that the bungalow, and a downtown intersection shot in a later scene, were supposed to exist in Minnesota.

"It's thrilling. We will always remember when Hollywood came to Highwood. We're looking forward to seeing the film," Bertucci said.

After all, that was their downtown, complete with train station, local bank and restaurants that back-dropped Smalley as he rode on a motorcycle with brother Donnie (actor Vincent D'Onofrio).

And it was a small neighborhood home owned by resident Debra Warren that brought the film to Highwood.

"This is a tremendous event," said Warren, who watched the action from across the street. "I can't believe how many people it takes to shoot a scene. It's not what I expected. People really work. And they have take after take," she said.

"This is very exciting," said Lisa Cervace, who lives halfway between the two Highwood scenes.

She and about a dozen other residents peered at the shooting between the production vans that lined Washington and Central Avenues.

Her only question was why it took so long for camera crews to discover the town, given its reputation for volatile council wars with colorful former Mayor Fidel Ghini.

"It's time they filmed in Highwood. The town is full of characters. They should have been here years ago," Cervace said.

Highwood's characters were not a consideration. But its character was, according to Illinois Film Office director Ron Ver Kuilen.

The movie's interior shots will be filmed on the lot back in California. But because the Smalley character lived in Chicago, Ramis wanted to shoot his other Midwestern scenes in the area rather than move locations.

The scenes, however, needed the depth of varying elevations and the right feel.

"The Chicago area is flat. You have to get out a ways southwest or northwest for good elevations. Highwood had what they wanted," said Ver Kuilen, who was pleased with the match.

"It was great working with them. We wish every community would be as cooperative and open as they were," he said.

And he definitely will keep the town in mind the next time a movie comes to the area. "I like the community. I would love to live there, but it is too far for me. It's a great place with a lot of character. Highwood is more than just restaurants. It's a great town," Ver Kuilen said.